Healthcare Documentation Specialist

The Healthcare Documentation Specialist Program is a three-semester certificate program. Classes may also be scheduled to provide opportunity to complete the program in 9 months if certain conditions are met and with the permission of the Program Director. Graduates of this program are prepared to transcribe and edit speech-generated medical reports dictated by physicians. They may also learn to perform the duties of a medical scribe. Medical transcriptionists, speech recognition editors, and medical scribes may work in hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, and transcription services. Graduates are eligible to take the AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity) RHDS certification examination. The program is approved by the ACCP (Approval Committee for Certificate Programs). The ACCP Committee operates under the authority of the AHDI National Leadership Board.

Traditional classes are taught at the Oak Ridge Branch Campus. All courses are also available online. Enrollment is limited.

Admission Requirements

Complete the Roane State Community College (RSCC) admissions process to become an admitted student.

Complete the electronic Allied Health Science (AHS) application on RaiderNet and submit by the published application deadline.Note: When choosing the Planned Course of Study, select ‘Healthcare Documentation Specialist. If this program is not selected as a Planned Course of Study you will not be considered for the Healthcare Documentation Specialist Program.

Complete a required program admission examination:

Healthcare Documentation Specialist Preadmission Test.* This test assesses applicant skills in three (3) areas: Basic computer skills; basic transcription (assesses grammar, spelling, and punctuation; does not require knowledge of medical terminology); and keyboarding. A minimum composite score of 75 is required along with a minimum typing speed of 45 WPM.
AND

Complete the Accuplacer (Placement Test).* If Accuplacer results indicate a reading deficiency, all Learning Support requirements for reading comprehension must be successfully completed before applicant will be considered for admission to the program. Note: Some applicants may be exempt from Accuplacer testing. Accuplacer scores within the last three years are accepted. Test scores and any transcripts from other colleges must be turned into the RSCC Admission and Records Office by published application deadline. See the Accuplacer webpage for registration directions, exemptions, and more.
OR

Student scores a minimum of 90 on the grammar, spelling, and punctuation parts of the Healthcare Documentation Specialist Preadmission test.
OR

Students have an ACT score of 19 or above in Reading and 18 or above in English.*
OR

Student has a HESI score of 70% or above.*
OR

Completion of ENGL 1010 (Composition I) with a C or better.Note: Scores are considered valid for 3 years or by program director approval.

Final selection of students will be made by the AHS Admissions Committee.

Note: Students may not register for discipline-specific courses until their major has been changed by the Allied Health Sciences/Nursing Admissions Advisor.
Note: Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to Tennessee Residents.

Program Application and Deadline

June 15. Late applicants may be considered on a space-available basis.

Students will be notified electronically via RaiderNet email of acceptance to the Healthcare Documentation Specialist program. Students must acknowledge their acceptance via reply email by the designated response date stated in the acceptance email.

Criminal Background Checks

Criminal background checks and drug screening may be a requirement at affiliated clinical sites utilized for training in the Medical Transcription Program. Based on the results of these checks, an affiliated clinical site may determine to not allow your presence at their facility. This would result in your inability to successfully complete the Medical Transcription Program. Students will be responsible for the costs of the background check. Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment. More information is available from your program director.

Health Guidelines

Students will be required to meet all health guidelines of affiliated clinical agencies. Personal health insurance may be required by some agencies. Students are highly encouraged to carry personal health insurance and are responsible for costs incurred due to injury or illness while enrolled. Students will be responsible for the cost of the physical examination and required immunizations and/or testing.

Students will be required, during the course of the program to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain tasks, and suitable emotional fitness. Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American Disabilities Act of 1990. Students will be required to meet all health guidelines of the affiliating agencies. Students are responsible for cost incurred from injury or illness while in the Medical Transcription Program.

Retention

Students’ grades will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the Program Director. A student must maintain the following standards or he/she will be dismissed from the program:

A grade of “C” or better in each specialty course.

Completion of specialty courses as specified by the certificate checklist. A student must be able to complete courses with the class in which he/she was admitted. A student who cannot graduate with the class in which he/she was admitted will be dropped from that class and must re-apply to a subsequent class.

Evidence of malpractice insurance and physical examination must be provided prior to clinical training.

The RSCC policy of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Sanctions applies to all students regardless of the program in which they are enrolled. In cases where alcohol and drug violations occur, disciplinary action, as well as the decision whether to test for alcohol or drugs, will be processed through the Dean of Allied Health Sciences and the office of the Dean of Student Services and Multicultural Affairs.

Readmission Procedures

A student must request readmission after a grade of “D” or “F” is received in a core course or after withdrawal from the program at any time during the semester.

A student may be considered for readmission to the program if all of the following criteria are met:

Students applying for readmission must meet all admissions criteria listed above.
The applicant must submit a readmission request in writing to the Program Director at least thirty (30) days prior to enrollment. The request must be a detailed personal reflection of the reason(s) for the unsuccessful performance and a plan of correction.

One (1) readmission to the program will be permitted.

The applicant applying for readmission may be required to interview with the Program Director for consideration of readmission before the review date by the AHS Admissions Committee.

An acceptable level of discipline-specific competency may need to be demonstrated prior to readmission.

A student with previous unsatisfactory clinical performance must be recommended for readmission by consensus of the program faculty.Note: The AHS Program Director will verify that all readmission documents and criteria including licensure/credentials are current and valid.

Readmission to an Allied Health Sciences program is contingent upon the availability of space.

Students who are dismissed for reasons associated with academic misconduct or violations of a code of ethics will not be considered for re-admission.

A student must repeat the specialty course or courses for which he/she was dismissed and attain a “C” or better in the course.

A student may be readmitted to the program within two year from the semester they failed. Before being considered for readmission they will be required to take a competency exam for those course(s) which they previously successfully completed. Upon successful completion of those exams they will be considered for readmission to the program and be required to take only the course(s) they failed. If they do not successfully complete the competency exam(s), they can reapply for admission but will have to repeat all courses. Successful completion of a competency exam(s) would mean a grade of 70 or greater.

Healthcare Documentation Specialist I ( HCDS 1504) must be repeated before students are allowed to enroll in Healthcare Documentation Specialist II and/or the Clinical Practicum ( HCDS 1312).

1HCDS 1350 is optional unless the total number of minutes transcribed is less than 2100 upon completion.

Students pursuing this certificate will be advised by the Allied Health Sciences Division. Students wishing to pursue an A.A.S. Allied Health Sciences with an emphasis in Medical Transcription should contact their advisor. A certain number of credit hours in each program must be completed in order to meet the graduation residency requirement. Contact your advisor for the requirement of your program.